As The 15th Station celebrates its 10th birthday, there’s time for a little trip down memory lane and a chance to welcome back some friends — old and new. But it’s not all reminiscing, with several big stories to discuss. In New Zealand, there’s celebration to be had as three new priests were ordained for the Diocese of Christchurch. New Zealand is also currently grappling with the possibility of euthanasia, but a new report doesn’t recommend it as the right way forward. There’s also social change on the Australian agenda, with same-sex marriage about to be considered by the people and the Parliament. In the northern hemisphere, a US bishop is calling for humane treatment of migrants. And in Wales, a case of mistaken identity meant it was free drinks all round. Join James, George, Anna, Gabriel and Gavin for opinions and reflections.

Two big stories from New Zealand lead off the Christmas episode of The 15th Station. Following the surprise resignation of Prime Minister John Key, Bill English became the latest Catholic to hold the position, saying his faith is a big part of his life but won’t dictate his public policy. Another famous Catholic who spent a long time in Wellington, Mother Suzanne Aubert, was also in the news, as she was declared Venerable by Pope Francis, recognising her life of service among the poor and marginalised. Pope Francis’s comments on Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics and his ongoing support for the plight of refugees also grabbed headlines. But a new Catholic app hopes to grab people’s hearts and souls and encourage them back to the sacraments. Join James, Don and Gavin for a bumper episode to round out 2016.

What Pope Francis said about Christians’ attitudes to homosexuals and what he did about the prospect of priests celebrating Mass ad orientem feature prominently in this month’s episode of The 15th Station. Don, James and Gavin also speak about the demographic challenges facing the Church in New Zealand — and in other Western countries — and consider the Church’s efforts to stop the legalisation of euthanasia. But how could a podcast be complete without discussion of PokemonGo? Answer: It couldn’t. Enjoy the show.

In this month’s episode, the upcoming papal encyclical on ecology and the environment, to be released on June 18, takes top billing. As Vatican-watcher John Allen points out, there are likely to be a number of false claims in the media when Laudato Sii is released. The panel — James, Helen, Don and Gavin — also talk about the changing demographics of Kiwis, new measures to hold bishops accountable for failing to protect children and the “Yes” vote to same-sex marriage in Ireland. And the show ends with a reflection on TV’s 1980s hard man Mr T and his Christian faith. Enjoy the show.

It was one of the most newsworthy moments of Pope Francis’s pontificate — the interview heard around the world. When the Holy Father sat down with fellow Jesuit priest Fr Antonio Spadaro, the two discussed a wide range of topics, and much of what was spoken about became water-cooler conversation around the world. James, Don and Gavin chat about that interview, Pope Francis’s intervention to save lives in Argentina a couple of decades ago and Pope Benedict’s decision to write a letter to a journalist who had questioned the former Pope’s efforts to combat abuse. Those stories and more in this month’s episode of The 15th Station.

With the panel down on numbers and an early recording date, it’s a more concise episode of The 15th Station this month as James and Gavin discuss some of the big stories of the month, including Pope Francis’s desire for bishops to be more pastor than prince, the idea of the Church reclaiming the word “matrimony” as marriage is redefined in various jurisdictions and we take a look at the first meeting of arguably the two most important Christian leaders in the world — Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury. We said “arguably”. Other big stories from the month, including the upcoming canonisations and the new encyclical, will feature in next month’s podcast.

In the May 2013 episode of The 15th Station, James, Helen, Don and Gavin talk about the latest statistics that show the Catholic Church is growing faster than the rate of population growth, and the number of seminarians, priests and bishops is growing with it. Another thing that’s growing is the number of relationships New Zealanders can consider marriage, with the passage of legislation allowing same-sex marriage. Some of the arguments against such moves are outlined in this piece, What is Marriage?, which Don mentions in the show. The panel also discusses Pope Francis’s upcoming trip to South America, the Church’s view on economic matters and the story that’s gone viral — a three-year-old Colombian boy who celebrates Mass.

It’s been just over a month since Pope Francis took the helm of the Barque of Peter as leader of the Catholic Church. In this month’s episode, papal musings dominate the show, with Helen, James, Don and Gavin talking about his first Easter Triduum, his first discussion of the sexual abuse crisis and also the Argentinian connection — tenuous as it may be — between Pope Francis and Diego Maradona. The panel also chats about the likely passage of same-sex marriage legislation in New Zealand. Could anything stop it from becoming law?

In this month’s episode, James and Gavin discuss the big news out of Australia: the establishment of a Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse, with the Catholic Church currently public enemy #1 in the country. There’s even a question over the possibility of a similar New Zealand inquiry. What has happened in New Zealand, though, is the “quiet” opening of a new abortion clinic. There wasn’t much quiet in the northern hemisphere, though, with the canonisation of seven new saints and the US bishops speaking on moral issues making a fair amount of noise. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, is this an apparition of Our Lady?

Same-sex marriage continues to dominate Catholic discussion in New Zealand and leads this month’s episode of The 15th Station. With our studio out of action, James and Gavin talk across the oceans about that story, including a sporting analogy that was devised to demonstrate how redefining words is a dangerous precedent. The guys also talk about the tributes for Cardinal Carlo Martini, the possibility of a joint Anglican-Catholic cathedral in Christchurch and the place of Catholicism in the upcoming US election. They end with the story that went around the world — the fresco fiasco. Thanks for listening and we’d love to get your feedback.

Search

Copyright 2018 Icon Media (NZ) Limited - All Rights Reserved

The 15th Station is our active monthly news podcast. We get a panel of Kiwi Catholics together to provide a Catholic perspective on the news and current events of the month.

Catechiwi is our archived catechesis podcast where we get a guest theologian from around the country or the world to speak on an aspect of the Catholic Faith.

Ignition leverages our partnerships with organisations like Hearts Aflame to provide a back catalogue of amazing lectures and talks from international speakers. We divide these talks up into multi-part podcasts.